Damper disc assembly

Abstract

A damper disc assembly is provided for transmitting a torque between an input rotary member and an output rotary member, including a hub, a flange, a first spring member, a support member, a second spring member and an input member. The hub is coupled with the output rotary member. The flange is disposed on an outer circumference of the hub, the flange having, on its outer circumferential portion, first and second spring member receiving portions each extending in a circumferential direction. The first spring member is disposed within the first spring member receiving portion. The support member is retained so as to be non-rotatable relative to the hub for supporting the first spring member in the circumferential direction. The second spring member is disposed within said second spring member receiving portion, and has a higher rigidity than that of the first spring member. The input member is coupled with the flange through the second spring member and capable of being coupled with the input rotary member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vibration damper assembly comprising: a hub, formed with a plurality of splines on an outer radial portion thereof;   a flange member having a central opening formed with spline engagable portions through which said hub extends, said spline engagable portions engagable with said splines allowing limited rotary displacement of said flange about said hub, said flange formed with at least one radially extending portion having first and second spring member receiving portions formed thereon;   a sub-plate member coupled to said hub for rotation therewith;   a first spring member disposed within said first spring member receiving portion and engagable with a portion of said sub-plate member;   a support member rotatably disposed about said hub;   a second spring member disposed within said second spring member receiving portion and engaging a portion of said support member, said second spring member having a higher rigidity than that of said first spring member;   at least one plate member rotatably disposed about said hub for limited rotary displacement therewith and in engagement with said second spring member;   a clutch friction surface portion coupled to said plate member for selective coupling to the flywheel of a torque providing rotary device.   
     
     
       2. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising friction disk disposed between said sub-plate member and said support member for producing friction therebetween in response to relative rotation between said sub-plate member and said support member. 
     
     
       3. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a conical washer disposed between said support member and said plate member for urging said friction disk into engagement with said support member and said sub-plate member. 
     
     
       4. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate member is formed with a window for receiving said second spring member, a surface of said plate exposed to said window being shaped to engage one end of said second spring member. 
     
     
       5. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate member is formed with protrusion shaped to engage one end of said second spring member. 
     
     
       6. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein angular displacement of said hub and said flange member is limited to a range of about 10×. 
     
     
       7. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the total relative displacement between said plate and said hub is greater than 16×. 
     
     
       8. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a clutch plate interposed between said plate member and said clutch friction surface portion, said plate member engaging said clutch plate and said clutch plate connected to said clutch friction surface portion for transmitting torque between said clutch friction surface portion and said plate member. 
     
     
       9. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rivets extending through a portion of said plate member and said clutch friction surface portion rigidly connecting said plate member to said clutch friction surface portion. 
     
     
       10. A vibration damper assembly comprising: a hub, formed with a plurality of splines on an outer radial portion thereof;   a flange member having a central opening formed with spline engagable portions through which said hub extends, said spline engagable portions engagable with said splines allowing limited rotary displacement of said flange about said hub, said flange formed with two radially extending portions each portion having first and second spring member receiving portions formed thereon;   a pair of sub-plate members, each coupled to said hub for rotation therewith on opposite sides of said flange;   a pair of first spring members each disposed within one of said first spring member receiving portions and each of said first spring members engagable with a portion of said sub-plate members;   a pair of support members rotatably disposed about said hub;   two pairs of second spring members disposed within said second spring member receiving portions, each pair engaging a portion of said support members, said second spring members having a higher rigidity than that of said first spring members;   a pair of plate members rotatably disposed about said hub for limited rotary displacement therewith on opposite sides of said flange member and in engagement with said second spring members;   a clutch friction surface portion coupled to said plate members for selective coupling to a flywheel of a torque providing rotary device.   
     
     
       11. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a pair of friction disks disposed between said sub-plate members and said support members for producing friction therebetween in response to relative rotation between said sub-plate members and said support members. 
     
     
       12. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a conical washer disposed between one of said support members and an adjacent one of said plate members for urging said friction disks into engagement with said support members and said sub-plate members. 
     
     
       13. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said plate members is formed with a plurality windows, each window for receiving one of said second spring members, a surface of each of said windows being shaped to engage one end of a corresponding one of said second spring members. 
     
     
       14. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said each of plate members is formed with a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion shaped to engage at least one end of one of said second spring members. 
     
     
       15. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein angular displacement of said hub and said flange members is generally within a range of about 10×. 
     
     
       16. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the total relative displacement between said plate and said hub is greater than 16×. 
     
     
       17. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flange radially extending portions are formed symmetrically about said central opening and said first spring member receiving portions are formed off center relative the symmetry of said radially extending portions. 
     
     
       18. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a clutch plate and a retaining plate disposed on opposing axial ends of said hub, said hub, said clutch plate and said retaining plate defining a fluid filed chamber therebetween, said flange, said pair of sub-plate members, said first spring members, said support members, said second spring members and said plate members disposed within said fluid filled chamber. 
     
     
       19. A vibration damper assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said clutch plate engages a first of said pair of plate members, and said retaining plate engages a second of said pair of plate members, and said plate member and said clutch plate connected to said clutch friction surface portion for transmitting torque between said clutch friction surface portion and said plate members. 
     
     
       20. A damper disc assembly comprising: a hub;   a flange coupled to said hub for limited rotary displacement therewith, said flange having a pair of opposing radially extending sector portions, each sector portion formed with a window therein, and said sector portions defining a pair of a circumferentially extending spring engagement portions therebetween;   at least two first spring members, one of said first spring members disposed in each one of said windows;   a sub-plate member disposed adjacent to said flange and about said hub, said sub-plate configured to rotate with said hub, said sub-plate member having sub-plate windows formed therein, said first spring members extending into said sub-plate windows, said first spring members coupling said sub-plate member and said flange;   a spring support member disposed adjacent to said sub-plate member, said spring support member having two radially extending portions, said radially extending portions circumferentially spaced apart from said sector portions; and   at least a pair of second spring members, one of said second spring members disposed between each one of said sector portions and said radially extending portions, said second spring members coupling said flange and said sub-plates;   an engagement plate disposed adjacent to said spring support member, said engagement plate contacting said second spring members; and   a clutch friction surface coupled to said engagement plate.